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After 2009's recession delays, zero-client, thin-client and desktop-virtualization technologies are poised to infiltrate companies, from the enterprise to the midsized organization to small business. Here's Channel Insider's guide to the technology, the trends, the turf wars and the promise.

After recession-related IT budget freezes that took the blame for many delayed technology projects and hardware refreshes, the stuff that was supposed to be hot in 2009 -- desktop virtualization, thin client and zero client computing -- is getting more attention again in 2010. Are you ready? Some IT organizations looking to upgrade their fleet of corporate PCs have actually reconfigured their projects for thin clients and virtualized desktops rather than full desktop PC or laptop upgrades, according to Jeff Groudan, director of thin clients and client virtualization in the Personal Systems Group (PSG) at HP.

And a number of IT solution providers who specialize in virtualization have told Channel Insider the same thing. Customers are starting to show interest in this technology that takes much of the maintenance and break/fix work away from client hardware, delivering a virtual version of the desktop instead. Thin clients served by the corporate computing infrastructure save on labor costs. And MSPs who create their own desktop delivery service for their end customers (like the one that Virtual Bridges and Rackspace just partnered to create) can earn annuity income while end customers reduce capital expenditures over time.

Channel Insider has taken a look at the trends, the challenges and the solutions over the past few years, and our editors have compiled some resources for those IT solution providers with customers who are interested in these thin client implementations. Here’s our resource guide to help you get over the humps.

What is it? Desktop virtualization separates the desktop environment from the actual physical machine. The desktop environment is then stored on the server and delivered to the desktop over the network. The client device at the desktop doesn’t need to have a hard drive because the operating system, applications, and user preferences are delivered fresh to the user each time the user logs on. With the introduction of the PC-over-IP protocol, users have recently been able to enjoy the benefits of their familiar desktop environments, even on a zero client or thin client set up.

Channel Insider’s staff prepared some recipes for solution providers looking to build the infrastructure. Take a look.

Jessica Davis covers the channel for eWeek and Channel Insider. Her technology journalism career began well before anyone heard of the World Wide Web and has included stints at Infoworld, Electronic News/EDN, and the Philadelphia Business Journal. Her work has also appeared on CNN and Forbes.com. She has covered hardware, software and networking, as well as the business side of technology. She has won several journalism awards, including a national ASBPE award for best staff-written column, and was named Marketing Computers hardest working tech journalist on their inaugural list of top tech journalists. Jessica can be reached at jessica.davis@ziffdavisenterprise.com

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